My 16 month old has had a winter full of back to back respiratory infections of increasing severity. She has an asthma diagnosis but after a recent terrifying episode and prolonged hospitalization, the pulmonologist is really concerned about aspiration. I'm in the process of scheduling a swallow study. Obviously YANMPediatrician, but please tell me about your experiences with children with severe asthma, or chronic respiratory infections, or aspiration. I'm currently scared shitless, so positive stories and reassurance are especially welcome. [more inside]
posted by telepanda
on Feb 25, 2015 -
13 answers

I live in a place with cold gray snowy winters. Despite no family history on either side, both my kids (1 and 4) have asthma that flares when they have a virus. There is still hope that they will outgrow it since they don't have symptoms when they aren't sick. The problem is that this winter they have had viruses All. The. Time. My mom keeps telling me that if I move somewhere warmer the kids won't be sick so much. I have great difficulty believing this and am curious what the hive mind has to say. [more inside]
posted by telepanda
on Jan 14, 2015 -
35 answers

I had a sink overflow and flood a finished basement. After a really long fight, insurance begrudgingly agreed to replace all of the affected carpeting. I have asthma, and now that the remodeling has begun, the dust and/or mold kicked up caused triggered my asthma. I think the insurance should provide money for me to stay in a hotel. They said they only do that if the house is unfit to live in. I say that as I have a medical condition, making it unfit to live in for me. [more inside]
posted by LANA!
on Jan 3, 2015 -
12 answers

I currently have chest tightness since this past July. I used to have asthma as a kid. I've gone to my primary care doctor about 3-4 times already. The following tests were performed: [more inside]
posted by tnar23
on Nov 21, 2014 -
10 answers

At the ripe old age of 40 something, I have been diagnosed with adult onset asthma. Nope, I wasn't one of those wheezy kids, so this is a whole new world for me. And no, I've never smoked. I'm getting a handle on the medical side of things, but it's the everyday stuff that is proving a challenge. [more inside]
posted by lawhound
on Aug 16, 2014 -
17 answers

So it turns the constant respiratory infections I've had for years, the endless hacking coughs, what I thought was whooping cough resulting in broken ribs during my pregnancy and the constant, constant disgusting mucus has been misdiagnosed asthma all along. What now? [more inside]
posted by Jubey
on Jul 27, 2014 -
27 answers

I'm a life-long asthmatic, I take a steroid inhaler (preventer) daily and use a reliever inhaler regularly. I'm trying for the second time to complete C25k. I had to stop the first attempt due to life getting in the way. Second time round, I swear just the anticipation of sessions I did before is enough to make my chest tight. I'm struggling so much lately I've abandoned the programme and just go for a jog for as long as I can, which is 20 -30 minutes. That's ok, and I'm sure as far as exercise goes is better than nothing, but I honestly never even get to have tired legs before I have to stop; because I stop when I run out of breath. So I'm not totally unfit in grandma terms. I walk everywhere, dance, stretch well, am flexible, can easily get off the floor without using my hands. I'm not bothered about my (2st over)weight. But I'd like to able to get to the point where jogging makes me tired, and I think this automatic chest-tightening - and associated panic - is a reflex from a lifetime of asthma being an issue. [more inside]
posted by glasseyes
on Sep 10, 2013 -
23 answers

Hello,
I am a long time allergy and asthma sufferer in Chicago. Recently this summer, I have been experiencing major headaches as the weather shifts dramatically. I have an ENT who has been working with me closely, but this is going beyond their area of expertise, as my sinuses, Eustachian, and nasal passages are clear. He thinks the problem/swelling is originating from above my sinus passages. (Sorry for TMI.) [more inside]
posted by dovesandstones
on Sep 1, 2013 -
5 answers

After 8-9 months of escalating breathing problems, I saw a pulmonologist this week and was diagnosed with mild persistent asthma. He gave me a Dulera inhaler, to be used 2x daily. It's a mix of a corticosteroid and a long-acting bronchodilator (formoterol fumarate). It's definitely helping my breathing! But the bronchodilator is giving me serious jitters -- usually starting a few hours after I use the inhaler. When this feeling comes on, my hands shake, my body feels weird, and I have a hard time focusing on mental tasks. [more inside]
posted by Artifice_Eternity
on Mar 9, 2013 -
15 answers

Are air purifiers useful for asthma/allergy sufferers? Our 11mo son is currently sick with pneumonia, is at high risk for asthma and our doctor has recommended a air purifier. [more inside]
posted by Admira
on Jan 17, 2013 -
20 answers

I was just diagnosed with asthma. Doctor developed a treatment plan (to start off, prednisone, Qvar and Atrovent inhalers, and narcotic cough syrup so that I can start sleeping again), so I hope that the symptoms -- the violent, persistent cough, mainly -- will soon abate. But, going forward, what do I need to know about having and living with asthma? [more inside]
posted by mudpuppie
on Jan 25, 2012 -
24 answers

YANMD... I had the flu about 3 weeks ago. I'm feeling much better now except I'm still coughing and wheezing. I have asthma, my inhaler works... But I'm using it more than I ever have. How long should I wait until I go back to the doctors? [more inside]
posted by patheral
on Dec 2, 2011 -
14 answers

Asthma-like breathing problems from bathroom cleaner. Tell me what ingredient in this bathroom cleaner I'm most likely sensitive to, so I can avoid said ingredient in the future. [more inside]
posted by The Toad
on Jun 28, 2011 -
18 answers

Do you know of any health clubs or any other organization that offer memberships to their saltwater swimming pools in the Charlotte, NC area? Preferably the NE side. [more inside]
posted by feeshbitZ
on May 11, 2011 -
1 answer

Should I see a pulmonologist or an allergist? My asthma has become much worse recently, and I don't have a primary care doctor. Specific questions inside. [more inside]
posted by easy, lucky, free
on Mar 1, 2011 -
12 answers

I take Clenil Modulite (Beclometasone dipropionate, a daily steroid) and Ventolin (Salbutamol, as needed) for my asthma, in inhaler form.
I'm visiting Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Japan, Russia and Mongolia in the course of a backpacking trip starting next month. I want to take these medicines with me, but am finding it hard to find info about restricted drugs in these countries. Can you help? [more inside]
posted by Kirn
on Jan 23, 2011 -
5 answers

My mum has been diagnosed with asthma recently, at 63. Last week she had to go into hospital. How serious is this, and how worried should I be? [more inside]
posted by mippy
on Jun 29, 2010 -
24 answers

I quit smoking two months ago, started running and weightlifting, am getting in good shape, and have inexplicably developed severe asthma seemingly out of nowhere. I have no insurance. I'm in NYC. Three questions: Why did this happen after I quit smoking? Should I see a GP or a specialist? How expensive are typical asthma meds? [more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Apr 26, 2010 -
14 answers

I want to buy area rugs that will have the minimum possible negative impact on my family's health (crawling baby, spouse with allergies). Low to moderate budget. Are Ikea wool rugs the way to go? If not, any other ideas for non-offgassing, somewhat non-allergenic, but still comfy floor coverings? [more inside]
posted by Bardolph
on Jan 11, 2010 -
16 answers

All my life I've had this problem when doing any sort of cardio activity: my throat can stand my breathing for about 15 seconds before it starts to burn like hell. I've tried breathing differently, asking for medical advice, drinking various beverages before/during/after working out... nothing. It's happened when I've been in better shape and when I'm a lazy slob. So I avoid cardio, which I have always desperately needed. How can I overcome this and work out pain-free? [more inside]
posted by Madamina
on Dec 28, 2009 -
16 answers

allergist wants to put our two-year daughter old on FLOVENT -- wife and I would prefer to avoid giving her steroids - is CROMOLYN as effective for cold virus-induced asthma in a toddler?
posted by LittlePumpkin
on Oct 3, 2009 -
24 answers

Runningfilter: A minor miracle of transformation. I could barely run at all, but last night I ran 2 miles. Why might this have happened, and have you ever had a similar experience? [more inside]
posted by Lieber Frau
on Sep 18, 2009 -
20 answers

Joined a gym a few months ago. We often jog 400m as a warm-up. I say "we" but in actual fact I can't do it. About halfway through I lose all ability to breathe properly - I think I may be taking very shallow breaths, but it's hard for me to tell exactly what happens. I feel like I can't get enough air, there's a lot of breathy noises, and I get hot as blazes. [more inside]
posted by Jaie
on Sep 14, 2009 -
16 answers

Sinus infection two years ago led to immediate symptoms of exercise-induced asthma. After two years, it's gotten better, but never fully disappeared. Will it ever go away? Am I impeding my recovery by continuing to utilize an inhaler? [more inside]
posted by pyrom
on Aug 29, 2009 -
9 answers

The cat allergy question has been asked before, and I do have the standard itchy eyes, stuffed nose, sneezing, etc. However, I'd specifically like suggestions regarding cat-induced asthma. Mine is severe enough that, although I haven't done it for years, spending 24 hours in a house with cats has put me in the emergency room and on a nebulizer. One person in that previous thread mentioned that Claritin helped. Has anyone else had experience with something that helped not just their cat allergies but the cat-induced asthma as well?
posted by SampleSize
on Aug 6, 2009 -
15 answers

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